New project sees beer transport using biofuel

Heineken, Nedcargo and GoodFuels announced the launch of a joint pilot initiative, aiming to demonstrate the advantages of operating inland transport barges, using sustainable drop-in marine fuel. Under the project, the 104 TEU inland barge ‘For Ever’ will transport Heineken beer from the company’s brewery in Zoeterwoude to the deep-sea terminals in Rotterdam, fueled with 30% biofuel.

The transportation of the beer in this way is expected to reduce CO2-emissions by more than 25%, while also sharply reducing harmful local emissions, such as nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM), the companies said.

The project, supported by the EICB (Expertise en Innovatie Centrum Binnenvaart) and the Dutch Ministry of Transport, aims to showcase the possibility of reducing emissions of inland waterway transport without any vessel modification. The exact emission reduction compared to fossil fuel will be monitored live during the pilot using Blueco’s Konnexus® system for remote monitoring.

Pieter van Kooten, Manager Projects & Sustainability, Heineken Netherlands Supply, commented: “It’s our ambition to make our brewery in Zoeterwoude climate neutral, and we are well on the way to achieving this. The logistical process is an important part of our sustainability ambition as well, and together with our partners Nedcargo and GoodFuels we are now taking an important step to realising a green corridor between our brewery in Zoeterwoude and the port of Rotterdam, from where we transport our beer around the world.”

Dirk Kronemeijer, CEO, GoodFuels, added that ‘For Ever’, well known in the Netherlands for transporting Heineken beer, is the best possible Dutch transport icon to introduce drop-in sustainable marine fuel in inland waterway transport.

Geertje van Hooijdonk, Director, Natuur & Milieu, commented: “We see advanced sustainable biofuels made from waste as one of the options to help lower the footprint of inland shipping. We are happy to see Heineken Netherlands, Nedcargo and GoodFuels taking these steps within its supply chain to make its logistics more sustainable.”